One Shots

31. [Rivalry]

"I'm BORED!"

Asahi only rolled her eyes at her brother rolling along to floor. Tsukito was only acting this way because of the intense heat, but she couldn't disagree.

It was too hot to concentrate on anything.

Tsukito was lying on the ground without his shirt on, almost like a starfish. If their parents were in the house, they would have certainly have forced him to put a shirt on and sit up properly, but unfortunately, both of them were at work.

"Then why don't you call up Leo and hang out with him today?" She mumbled, moving from her spot to get something to drink.

"Him and his family is out of town," Tsukito whined. "And they aren't going to be back for three days since they're going for a wedding."

"And Jett and Scarlett are away since Jett's in the hospital recovering," Asahi said with a sigh. "And we can't visit him or Scarlett because of that. What about Maki?"

Tsukito let out an irritated breath.

"I'm not talking to her right now," he said angrily.

Intrigued, Asahi set down her glass.

"Oh? Since when were you two on bad terms?" She asked. "I thought you guys made up for 'you-know-what'?"

"That was before she stuffed my locker with unwrapped candy and made all my stuff sticky while ALSO luring all the ants into my locker," he lashed.

"And why did she do that?"

Asahi watched as Tsukito peeled himself off of the floor, his hair sticking up in various directions.

However, he didn't answer, only gritting his teeth and turning away.

"Kito," Asahi said in a warning voice. Tsukito only let out a grunt of displeasure.

"Fine, she did it because I replaced the sugar in her coffee with salt, and she ended up throwing it up in a trashcan nearby."

"And why did you do that?"

"Because she took my boxing gloves and drowned them in toilet water."

Asahi furrowed her eyebrows as she walked up to her brother. He winced as she grabbed him by the ear, as if she was a mom scolding her child.

"What did I tell you about you two messing around with each other like that?" She accused. "That's why you guys are always on edge around each other!"

"It's not my fault! She started it!"He exclaimed, smacking Asahi's hand away from his ear. "She's the one who started the war and won't end it!"

Asahi sighed, clicking her tongue in disapproval.

"Honestly, if you two teamed up, the world would be destroyed," she muttered. "I'm calling Maki over, you guys need to get over your issues."

"NO!"

"Kito."

He sighed in dismay, only flopping back on the ground in annoyance.

"And put on a shirt, I don't think Maki would like to see you sweating on the floor," Asahi said, wrinkling her nose before she took another drink. "And clean up around you."

"When did you suddenly become a counselor?" Tsukito grumbled as he got off the floor, pushing his bangs back from his eyes.

"I don't like my friends to be fighting with my brother, that's when," she retorted. "Did Mom ever say when we are getting the AC fixed?"

"She said that the guy is coming tomorrow."

They groaned at the same time.

---------

Maki winced the moment she walked into the house.

"Sorry, our AC is broken," Asahi said in an apologetic tone. "We've turned on all the fans but they aren't doing much."

"...I thought you said Tsukito was here?"

"Hold on."

Asahi approached the bottom of the stairs, brushing her hair off to the side.

"KITO! GET DOWN HERE!" She called. "I TOLD YOU TO PUT ON A SHIRT, NOT TO HIDE!"

Tsukito yelled something in response, but it was too muffled to understand. But minutes later, he came bounding down the stairs, stuffily dressed in a hoodie.

"How are you wearing that?" Maki asked as her eyebrows wrinkled together. "I'm getting hot just looking at you."

He stuck his tongue out at her.

"Very mature," Asahi said, rolling her eyes as she passed Maki a cold cup of water. "But why are you wearing a hoodie for? You're literally going to die from heatstroke."

"Because I can."

Maki sighed.

"But now, y'all have the chance to get over your issues with each other," Asahi announced, pulling the two towards the living room. "Come on, I'm gonna help you guys become friends again."

Both groaned, but sat down anyway. Tsukito automatically turned away from Maki, while the latter just criss crossed her legs on the couch.

"Okay, what's you guys' deal? Why are you guys always pranking each other?"

Maki and Tsukito only remained silent. Maki rolled her eyes.

"Guys," Asahi said in a warning tone.

"Well, we bet each other," Maki muttered. "First one to break would pay the other fifty dollars."

Fifty dollars?

"Is that really worth it for putting your friendship at risk?" Asahi asked, crinkling her eyebrows together. "That doesn't sound like a good payoff. And Tsukito, I know you don't have that kind of money."

"Which is why I refuse to break because I know that Maki does. I'm broke."

Maki elbowed him in the ribs with a dirty look on her face.

"Then get a job!" She exclaimed angrily.

"I can't! I'm too young, no one will hire me!" Tsukito huffed. "And I don't make much from all the bets that I do at lunch."

"You really need to stop taking bets, you're gonna end up in a ditch somewhere," Asahi said as she brushed her hair back. "I'mma tell mom if you don't stop."

"I'm pretty sure that's not the point here."

"The point," Asahi continued, "is that you guys need to stop. Call this bet off so that you guys can be friends again."

"We ARE still friends," they both said together in unison.

"Doesn't seem like it. I don't think friends would try to harm each other. Well, at least to this degree, honestly."

They sighed.

"I guess we did take it way too far," Maki muttered. "If we made up now, can we PLEASE go somewhere that has air conditioning?"

Asahi nodded her head. Tsukito and Maki looked at each other and nodded. After sharing one VERY awkward half hug and a handshake, the two had finally ended their war.

"But, uh, when we get to school...just don't sit at your desk," Tsukito said awkwardly. "I'll fix it up the chair first."

Maki rolled her eyes, but she had a half-hearted smile on her face.

"Then don't put your hands in your boxing gloves," she said.

Asahi gave the two a weird look of concern.

"How are either of you two still ALIVE?"

The two of them shrugged.

Asahi simply decided not to question anything from them anymore.